Deep Purple - Through The Smoke: The Recording Of Smoke On The Water

Join the band as they recount their memories of the bizarre set of circumstances that lead to the creation of one of the greatest rock and roll songs of all time…
Shop the Machine Head Super Deluxe Edition and Listen to the 2024 Remix/Remaster:
- US, Canada, Japan Rhino.lnk.to/MachineHeadDeluxe
- Europe and Rest of World umg.lnk.to/deeppurple
Production Credits:
Directed by: Dan Gibling
Executive Producer: Matt Clark
Production Company: Skyfire 76
Cameras + Sound: Dan Gibling + Corin Schencks
Featured Photo Book: Didi Zill - 'Deep Purple: Photos 1970-2006’
Animated Clips taken from the 'Smoke On The Water' music video Produced by Chiba Film

[@barnabinks1239]

My favorite band ever thank you deep purple for being so good at music

[@MidnightHunters]

Same here

[@westerling8436]

same!

[@Stefan-]

Martin Birch was such a fantastic sound engineer and producer, he made lots of classic albums with Deep purple, Rainbow, Iron Maiden, Black sabbath and more. Rock In peace.

[@vectragt2310]

Just listen to Fool for your Loving... A Genious!

[@audieconrad8995]

I was 16 years old lying in bed listening to the local a.m. station WLAM and at about 10:00 p.m. or so the dj breaks in and says, "I've got the new DEEP PURPLE album, and at 11:00, I'm going to play it in its entirety." WHAAAAAT!??? 2-minute song a.m. radio is gonna do whaaaat?? I stayed awake and listened and could-not-believe what I was hearing. I went to the record shop the next day. Mr. DeOrsey said I was the first one to buy DEEP PURPLE MACHINE HEAD...I still have that copy. Rock on brothahs & sistahs!✌🏼

[@sickie1961]

Nobody mentioned Ritchie. That riff and solo were magnificent

[@SentientNr6]

Actually they do at multiple occassions maybe rewatch? Ritchie was magnificent. Jon Lord was magnificent as well, the whole band was magnificent.

[@fredthegraycatt]

Easy to go unnoticed at 2:58.

[@mountart2]

The riff that started millions of kids learning how to play guitar

[@arloroan3168]

My sister's boyfriend showed me how to play this on a bass, in E when I was a kid. I'm proudly one of those millions!

[@Moni-xb7hl]

In Germany it is said, that is not allowed to play the riff in a music shop to test the guitars

[@arnostijlen]

And don't forget about Richie! Great Rock guitarist - certainly one of the greatest!

[@Fuxerz]

Top 3 in the world in his day

[@arnostijlen]

@@Fuxerz Legend guitarist! Wish he was still part of the current line up!

[@lacca-acrossthelane]

ROGER GLOVER HOW NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN 💯💯🙌🏻

[@jeffsilverman6104]

The literal soundtrack of my youth. I hitch-hiked over to Moby Disc in Van Nuys to buy Machine Head, over fifty years ago. An amazing half-century later, and I'm still above ground and still listening.

[@PurpleRecords1972]

I can tell you this… I visited both the Grand Hotel and walked the corridor and onto Petit Palace back in 2008 and when back at my hotel that night, l lay on the bed headphones on and played Machine Head - my perception the album totally changed. Even now I still get that feeling of wow - what an experience the band went through to make this 100% classic album for us…

[@shirleydsouza1665]

Machine Head (the LP) was d first record purchased by my brother. We spent many happy hours listening to it. My brother passed away this Jan, aged 70 yrs. I am 65 yrs. Missing my brother after he passed away, I wanted to connect to our shared past. I remembered Smoke on the Water. Downloaded the ringtone for my phone of the beginning of the song. Whenever my phone rings, I feel the shared past with him. The memories of grooving to this song. This is going to be my ringtone for a long time.😊 Thank you for explaining the genesis of this super song 🎸

[@bobbg9041]

Ill be 64, my broths 69 but he's ok. He played me Machine head Richie was his favorite of all bands back then but he started playing at age 9 many years before this lp came out he still plays. In i think 74 deep purple came to Arrowhead my older brother took me to that concert, someone up in the stands matched ians high pitched vocals on Child in time, and thinking back Blackmore asked him to come down to the stage but he didn't go I think Ians voice was going out from that tune by that time. Plus the impact of 2 people doing that song would make it more powerful. Yes smoke on the water was one of my favorite songs, i kinda lost instrest in the band as members left, also I loved ELP and Emerson moog and Pink Floyd but One of the best albums was machine head and made in Japan A whole side of an lp for Highway starr Im still space trucking.

[@shirleydsouza1665]

@@bobbg9041 Beautiful memories of the past 👍

[@lacca-acrossthelane]

Ian's voice so warm & comfortable as always

[@smok-n]

Лучшая группа всех времён и народов!!!!! Спасибо за великую музыку

[@rexpayne7836]

I grew up listening to Deep Purple and have never looked back. 🇦🇺 👍

[@reinaldoalves9038]

ThANK YOU Mr. Gillan, Mr. Paice. Mr. Glover for the soundtrack of my life, no more to say, just a Big Thank You !

[@KookooBird-fs2bz]

You're missing SOMEONE

[@reinaldoalves9038]

@@KookooBird-fs2bz Unofrtunately, that SOMOEONE, who is my favorite guitarist ever, probably didn't want to participate in an interview, as he usual behavior, but who knows. it would be good to see the man in black saying something. I saw in an interview Glover said that he (Glover) had nothing to do with this project, It was a pure Warner/Rhino thing, they did only this short interview for the project, that was all.

[@CB-xr1eg]

@@reinaldoalves9038 But you also missed a certain Jon Lord! Ok he died but he still deserves recognition.

[@reinaldoalves9038]

@@CB-xr1eg same as Ritchie, Steve Morse, Rod Evans, Tommy Bolin, Nick Simper , JLT and also Joe Satriani and Simon now...

[@CB-xr1eg]

@@reinaldoalves9038 So basically, every member of Deep Purple through the years. Including Randy California.

[@technonarg5978]

I first heard Deep Purple as a first year student at Grammar School in 1974, and they've been Rockin' my world ever since. The Deep Purple family tree soon gave me a fantastic introduction to all the members'other bands and solo albums to collect and explore. My Rock library started to grow with branches following Gillan,Glover,Blackmore,Coverdale,Trapeze,Rainbow,Whitesnake and continues to branch out and gives me new band members to backtrack and research,and a prodigious amount of music,and musicians are still being added to my collection thanks to Deep Purple. :-)

[@emjem99]

Grammar School in 1970 for me.

[@CB-xr1eg]

Why did you exclude Jon Lord? What about Paice Ashton Lord and his solo works? And his work in Whitesnake. If it weren't for Jon & Ritchie, Deep Purple would never have existed!

[@emjem99]

@@CB-xr1eg geez, I'm sure he didn't intend to offend you.

[@CB-xr1eg]

@@emjem99 Didn't say he did, I was just asking a question. Why don't you butt out? I wasn't addressing you anyway. Wind your neck in.

[@DimTod-ps2wi]

The Greatest Band Ever!

[@wataboutya9310]

When you listen to these guys talk, they have an intellectual vibe to them that you just don't hear from other hard rock bands from England during that era like for instance the lads from Black Sabbath.

[@fotisidroxoos1980]

DEEP PURPLE MY FAVOURITE BAND!

[@SatWise2013]

I had the honor of managing DP's first online store and volunteer led fan website they adopted us as official back in 1996. I convinced them to release an MP3 from a new live CD to anyone who signed a petition for the Rock Hall of Fame on the website. US TV show Extra! did a segment on it as they were the first band to release an MP3 single. Bravo to see what started still doing these GOATS justice. Thanks for all the memories boys! - Ed Janx, with much love to Svante, Dave, Wolf, Rasmus, Andreas, and all good people from The Highway Star original fan pages🧡

[@XandoZupo]

Just 3 words. "THANK YOU, GUYS!"

[@metalknight4388]

yeah!! gillan's growing that hair again 🤘🏻

[@StephGV2]

If you told music critics of the time, especially those working for the hard rock hating Rolling Stone Magazine, that *Smoke on the Water* would stand the test of time and still be a crowd favorite for 3 or 4 generations 52 years later, they would have thought you were mad. As it was, by 1976 they were declaring hard rock to be "dinosaur music" the moment punk and disco arrived. *Smoke on the Water* was their music poster for that declaration that hard rock was dead.

[@CB-xr1eg]

Nobody takes Rolling Stone seriously these days, especially because of the ridiculous Hall Of Fame.

[@StephGV2]

@@CB-xr1eg Nobody should ever have taken Rolling Stone seriously when it came to music. Though it was fun reading Lester Bangs reviews back in the day.

[@sticksandbones6987]

Rolling Stone Magazine SUCKS.

[@chrissartain4430]

The Greatest Band of their Time, Led Zep & Deep Purple have been the very best of the 70's

[@billjannusch]

Absolutely awesome interview. I could listen to these type of stories all day long. I love Deep Purple forever.

[@AndyNyle]

god bless ritchie’s genius and bands ability to take it into the skies

[@user-nn4ui7qz6l]

Ian Gillan is for me the best rock leadsinger of all times❤

[@erikvalencia]

Mark II ❤

[@CHUY-DRZ400s]

BLACKMORE!!

[@user-hk5ck8nb3n]

Happy birthday to him! :) Today is 14.04.24.

[@jeremythornton433]

I'm still loving and buying Deep Purple albums and I'm 68! Best band ever!

[@lebethonii6683]

Let me just say, 'and thank you Mr Ritchie'

[@bobs6386]

My first Rock Concert I went to was 1972 or 73 and it was summertime Billy Preston opened for the Amazing Deep Purple who blew us all away. The crowd outside The Great Allentown Fairgrounds in Allentown Pennsylvania where their concert was held was sold out and concert goers of a couple hundred who could not get in overwhelmed security and crashed the fence. I was only 12 or 13 at the time. I went to many Rock Concerts since, but this Deep Purple concert is the most memorable. I am a lifelong fan and never stop listening. Thank you, Deep Purple, for the greatest music and memories.

[@treasuremuch9185]

Also my first concert, in 74, with Coverdale. Rocked!

[@ednapurple]

Thank you Deep Purple 💜💜💜💜

[@Kirbydp]

Mi banda favorita de toda la historia, los adoro🙌

[@birchsongsltd.6831]

I saw the Burn tour. I was 11 and went with my best friend who was 12 and turned me on to DP. We were chaperoned by a neighbor who volunteered to take us. The entire experience changed my life's path.

[@TheDeepPurplePodcast]

Great video! Thanks for sharing the afterparty with us!

[@deaconblue949]

So good to hear the story straight from the band members. I wish Ritchie had joined in.

[@CB-xr1eg]

Ritchie was (and still is) away with the fairies. A curmudgeonly old man quaffing beer from a stein and making renaissance music with his gorgeous wife.

[@edgrrickett140]

I feel 50 years younger after seeing this. Thank you Deep Purple

[@kechho25]

Love you Deep Purple! 💜

[@cheddermikey4893]

Brilliant song/band. Wish there was more machine head era live footage. You guys are the definition of tight. Kinda miss the flanger on the drums at the end but great nonetheless. GOAT material..

[@ArthurMetalHead]

I discovered these guys a year ago at 11. I am happy to be one of the rare ones that love this old music and i love classic rock and hate nowadays music. I think kids should listen to classic music like this, my fav band!

[@AngelCatBaby]

One of my favorite songs by Deep Purple….I was in the military during this time and it was playing everywhere. Many of my friends were in Vietnam. Thank you Deep Purple for your contribution to music and helping us through those years of conflict. It helped relieve some of the pain for those we lost in the war. 👍❤️🎵🙏🏼👍

[@dukeford8893]

These guys are great. Really miss Jon Lord.

[@Lionheart5977]

The GREATEST! Can't wait! 😎🤘💯🔥🔥

[@ronricherson6685]

I played every song (as a keyboardist) with a band who all loved DP. I even had a souped up Leslie to get that gritty Jon Lord sound. But having spent my life writng and recording and developing my ear, I really hear how the Machine Head album somehow captures the stark, dreary cold of an empty Swiss hotel in the dead of winter. When Ian Gillan sings, "emptiness, eagles and snow," that to me is the description of the sound. Compare it with the Burn album and the difference will stand out.

[@AceCourageRockManiac]

Thank you so much! When you appear on stage it´s like meeting old family members!

[@varunmadan99]

I'm so sad I missed their last gig in my country, I can't wait for this premiere! ❤

[@daviddephy188]

Big, great, colorful, action movie based on this mystical, incredible, and real Rock'n'Roll story would be just amazing. This incomparable story defines the era and has a strong and deep message.

[@MarkGardner66Bonnie]

One of my fave bands... Jon Lord... ROCKS!

[@SargeDrums]

Heard the story of 'Smoke' before..but love hearing this much more detailed telling from the boys themselves! Just awesome..you fellas have been part of my life soundtrack since '78! Rock On..Forever!! 🤘😎🤘😎

[@EddieRIffau]

DP on the turntable tonight!

[@VNeto94]

Thank you for this.

[@nikkmorse]

Absolute LEGENDS best of British, and will always be one of my favourite bands of ALL time....and AMAZING live 🤘🏼😈🤘🏼🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@heraldogarciavitta5609]

Thank you Deep Purple

[@yuriyslutskiy1362]

From 1980 I'm with Deep Purple

[@CB-xr1eg]

You were late to the party. In 1980 Deep Purple were not even together, they split in 1976 and got back together as MK2 in 1984.

[@yuriyslutskiy1362]

@@CB-xr1eg Good comment. I believe everyone has a storyline. I was 10 years old in 1980.

[@jamesmartin8232]

Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple were my two favourite bands of the 70's.. I almost wore out my vinyl albums of both bands lol...😅 Thank you guys for all of the incredible music produced from those days up till now.... 🤟 🙌

[@TrapDaily]

Hell ya 🤘 Absolute legends but where's Ritchie?? Anyone else can't stop hearing , "all right hold tight it's the Harland Highway Show " now 😂

[@LisaBellaDonnaMusic]

Such a perfectly produced video Such a special and seminal record. So amazing to hear these stories from these legends in 2024. Long live Deep Purple! 💜

[@repetitivemotion]

One of the great rock songs in history

[@militarybooks]

The band that wrote the soundtrack to my life. if only Jon Lord was with us so we could hear from him again. I still feel his loss.

[@bernardvlieghe4031]

Indeed, Jon performed with ease and magic all kinds of sounds on the Hammond organ. Perfect improvisations. Amazing, awesome. 💪🤘

[@aalonso1961]

never forget !

[@bryan9587]

I was here! PREMIUM club 😎😎💪💪

[@Ephilates2024]

Smoke On The Water like so many other hits by Deep Purple is for the ages (Child in Time my personal favorite) but it is singular. You guys immortalized the anonymous “stupid with a flare gun”. I wonder if we’ll ever learn his identity. Thank you to all of you for the music!

[@laurentsamson8927]

I love this story and especially the way Roger Glover tells it. It’s magical as that time was. I am a privileged person to be born in the 60s

[@darwinsanchez4300]

Ya no puedo esperar más a que salga esa belleza

[@mwalker3547]

Machine Head is a MASTERPIECE!

[@icon007ff]

I love it! Thank you.

[@CB-xr1eg]

The most famous and recognisable song in the history of rock!

[@Jgawd]

Machine head is a masterpiece 🤘

[@mojostyles1]

Fabulous documentary, story. 😉🤘👍🌟 Greatness! IMO.

[@kraz007]

I traveled to Montreux in 2019 for a homage to the album and song. Unfortunately, there were supposed to be metal notes commemorating the biggest riff but they have been removed in recent years.

[@russl9029]

One of my absolute favorite bands of all time! Can't beat that mkii line-up!!!!

[@ninoorjon]

I love you guys 💜

[@user-ml4rg8pr5r]

Thanks Ian, great story. Cannot wait to get Deep Purple's new album. All the best to you and Purple

[@LeStraTele]

I love these guys. I could listen to them tell this story over and over.

[@pidosilencio]

Amo a Deep Purple.

[@silviocrespo4329]

I saw an interview with Jon Lord (may God rest his soul) saying that the recording in Montreux was also intended to avoid the British government's taxes on profits, after all it was the first album in which they would have a substantial part of the sales, which in Previous records would go to management in order to replace the money previously invested in them. This they omitted.

[@frankrogowski5608]

Ian Gillan - the mightiest hard rock/metal vocalist of all time!

[@pela1100]

Crecí con Deep. Gracias, por eso.

[@user-by4ds8fh2z]

Какой голос у Яна Гиллана крутой! Deep Purple 💜💚💜 FOREVER!!!✌️🙏✊🤘👍👍👍🎸💯

[@kenrq63]

Thank you Deep Purple, your music has been the only thing that is able to "calm the beast inside me" for the last 46 years.

[@limi.]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@saviocarvalho]

Amazing background story to the creation of an amazing song!

[@iangarbutt7451]

Thanks so much for this great Choon!! I have your classic album safely in my collection.... Happiness Happening as I approach 70!! 🎵🙌❤️🙌🎶

[@ULR938]

¡Qué felicidad! Te amo Depp Purple🎉

[@claudevieaul1465]

I could easily listen for hours on end to Roger Glover - a great storyteller with a good sense of humour and quite the musical philosopher...

[@gustavofelipemontoya150]

This is epic, wonderful, sensational music for real!

[@user-qm7nw7vd5s]

Such an iconic riff.

[@stingfan16ify]

I can't wait to hear the 50th Anniversary set! I know it's going to be amazing!!!

[@akkik22]

My biggest regret in life would be to not attend your live concert.Time to build a time machine for Montreux

[@user-pv9fo2qz6l]

Любимейшая группа!❤❤

[@albedun1642]

Toute ma jeunesse. Le meilleurs groupe 👏👏👍👍👍❤

[@MrReStories]

Awe...that was nice 🙂

[@sintigermanya]

Eine Legende am See Mr F.M machts möglich 😮

[@hiitsstillme]

That's a great review, thank you. We read another reason why many British groups were recording outside of England was the atrocious taxes they had to pay if they lived there, and recorded their music there also.

[@CB-xr1eg]

That's very true. They were paying almost as much in taxes as they earned. George Harrison knew the score when he wrote Taxman.

[@ginaambrosio3241]

As a musician, I really needed to watch this video tonight, not only are they phenomenal and great , but this video served as an inspiration! Deep Purple 💜

[@lukekaizen8399]

You can visit the former Grand Hotel in Montreux and there is a plaque dedicated to the recording of the album. It's not easy to find but great to stand so close to the history of the band!

[@JigglyMyJiggle]

💜💜💜💜Pure Rock !!!💪🏻💪🏻🤘🤘🎸🎸🎸

[@RandymanB]

Smoke on the Water was my initiation to great hard rock. I was in middle school and that song started my life long passion for rock and roll.

[@gsx1340b]

just a top10 ever made since god made rock 🖖🏻

[@hernantosca]

Maravilloso Maestros !!!